ilk hat tipped rakishly on one side of his head.

"A strange thing is happening; something the stars gave no hint of.
We're being driven by circumstances utterly beyond our control from the
side of the lawless to the side of the lawful and benevolent. In spite
of ourselves, you understand!"

"But we're not leaving here until--"

"You were about to say that we can't shake the dust of Rochester from
our sandals before we've made our party calls. Alas, no! We shall not
communicate with our ladies again. First we must justify their
confidence in us and find the Congdon child. Our wool can only change
from black to white when we have performed some act of valor in a good
cause. That is clearly indicated by my latest pondering of the zodiacal
signs. Let me say that your Isabel is beyond question a girl worth
living or dying for. I am delighted that she and Ruth speak the language
of those of us who love the life adventurous, children of stars and sun.
I shall be up early to make a few discreet inquiries as to the recent
visit of Eliphalet and then I must buy a machine powerful enough to
carry us far and fast. Luckily I brought a bundle of cash for just such
emergencies."

"But a day's delay can't matter," Archie pleaded. "Every hour matters
when the woman I love sets a task for me. It's still the open road for
us, Archie. Good-night and pleasant dreams!"

II

The new car proved to be a racer and the Governor drove it with the
speed of a king's messenger bearing fateful tidings. Occasionally from
sheer weariness he relinquished the wheel to Archie, whose disposition
to respect the posted warnings against lawless haste evoked the
Governor's most contemptuous criticism.

"We ride for our ladies! Let the constables go hang!"

Constables were not to Archie's taste but now that they were bent upon a
definite errand and one that promised another meeting with Isabel at the
end of the journey he shared the Governor's zest for flight. It was a
joy to be free under the broad blue arch of June. Spring is a playtime
for fledgling fancy but in summer the heart is strong of wing and dares
the heavens. It was Archie who now initiated vocal outbursts, striking
up old glee club catches he hadn't thought of since his college days. He
was in love. He bawled his scraps of song that the world might know that
he was a lover riding far and hard at the behest of his lady. His
thoughts skipped before him like dancing children. The life he w